You Should See Me in a Crown(66)

He opens his eyes and looks almost frantic. “Liz, that’s the only stupid thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re not serious. You can’t be. After all this? No way. Give me my phone.” He points at his sweatpants folded on a table next to the window. I grab his phone and place it in his upturned hand, wiggling fingers and all. He scrolls quickly, like the man on a mission he is.

“I am serious.” I shake my head. “What’s the point? Look what I’ve already lost in being part of this. I spent so much time doing prom stuff that I could have spent with you. It’s not worth it.”

“What you’ve lost? Look what you’ve gained!” He says quickly, almost breathlessly. “I have never seen you like this before, Liz. You’re having fun. And I know that’s a foreign concept to a workaholic like you, but fun is a good thing.” He smirks and nudges me gently with his knee. “You never would have gone viral for becoming Campbell’s own FloJo, never would have become friends with Jordan again.”

And, okay, so maybe the kid makes some points. But still.

“It just feels like every time I get closer to winning being possible, something else goes wrong.”

He looks a little sad, and not just because he’s hooked up to this machine.

“You can’t keep living your life for me and Granny and Grandad.” He reaches for me slowly, and I take his hand. “We’re gonna be fine. We always are—it’s the Lighty Way. But look at this! What you’ve done in this campaign is dope. I can’t believe my sister has become the most-talked-about person in Campbell County.”

I’m wiping at a tear I don’t remember crying, but suddenly my throat feels tight and all I wanna do is wrap my arms around my not-so-little-anymore brother.

“And think about it this way.” He looks down at his phone as he speaks, clicking around. “If you hadn’t run, you never would have fallen in love.”

He shoves his phone at me triumphantly, after finding what he was looking for, the brightest smile I’ve seen from him all day finally making its way across his face. The prom court list has been posted and reposted all over Campbell Confidential. It’s there. My name is there.

My mouth opens and closes without any sound managing to escape.

“Congratulations, big sis.” He raises his eyebrows. “Still thinking about dropping out?”



Okay, so I’m full of it.

I am so, so deeply full of it that sometimes I actually believe myself. Because for a second, in the moment that I told Robbie I wanted to quit, I seriously thought I wanted to quit. But now, as I see my name on the girls’ list, I’m reminded of how badly I want to win. Want that scholarship. Want to go to Pennington.

Claire Adams



Quinn Bukowski



Lucille Ivanov



Elizabeth Lighty



I’m pretty sure it’s dark outside now, even though there are no windows where I’m sitting. I stepped out to let Robbie rest once Granny and Grandad returned from dinner a few hours ago, and decided to hole up in a corner in the waiting room. Granny and Grandad are still camped out in Robbie’s room, covered in some thin hospital-issue blankets, drifting in and out of sleep, but I thought it’d be better if I stayed out here. I think that after the past few weeks, maybe some time alone is good for me.

My phone is still turned off, tucked into my back pocket. Which probably explains why I don’t expect it when Jordan Jennings comes around the corner—grinning from ear to ear despite where we are—shaking the two greasy white paper bags he has in his hands.

“You come here often?” he says as he approaches. He sits down in the seat next to me and places the bag in my lap. “I brought you dinner. I thought you might be hungry.”

I peek inside and smile. “You brought me our first meal.”

“I’ll never forget Post-Puke Liz Lighty.” He laughs quietly. “This double steakburger is officially our thing now.”

I plop the bag down on top of an old issue of Highlights for Children.

“How you doing, fam?” Jordan throws an arm around my shoulder, and I lean into it easily. “It’s been a wild ride these past few days.”

“Yeah.” I nod. But Robbie is still here, still safe. So my own drama aside, I can deal. “But it could be worse.”

“Just because it could be worse doesn’t mean you don’t get to acknowledge how much it sucks, you know.” I sigh but don’t respond. “You’ve missed a lot since you went off the grid after Rachel pulled that stunt.”

I lean back to look up at him, eyes wide.

“Did you forget it’s Campbell County, Lighty? Things can always get worse.” He rolls his eyes. “Need I remind you about the #ReplacementEmme fiasco?”

I laugh, once, short. “No, you really don’t.”

Jordan grabs my bag of food as he starts his story, pulls out my burger and shoves it into my hand. He does the same with his and takes a massive bite.

I don’t realize how hungry I am until I taste it.

“Yup, eat up. You’ll need your strength for when I tell you that Madame Simoné kicked Rachel out of the race.”

I nearly choke. “That’s why she’s not on the list?”